Machine for trimming the edges of panels

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for severing web materials especially for severing the web between successive panels which are attached to the web. The apparatus includes a knife structure which is disposed on one side of the web and the supporting member on the other side of the web. Special cam means are provided for moving the knife and the anvil member toward and away from the web.

United States Patent [1 1 Morse et al.

[ MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES OF PANELS [75] Inventors: Donald B.Morse; Bernard A.

Pribish, both of Joliet, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Kemlite Corporation, Joliet, I11.

[22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 316,264

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 99,135, Dec. 17,1970.

[52] U.S. Cl 83/365, 83/370, 83/620, 83/623, 83/628, 83/629, 83/636 [51]Int. Cl 826d 5/16 [58] Field of Search 83/370, 371,- 372, 620, 83/628,629, 636, 623, 355, 356.2, 365

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 407,467 7/1889 Crook 83/3703,593,611 7/1971 Sagehorn 83/620 X 695,553 3/1902 Heany 83/371 1 Apr. 2,1974 1,260,260 3/1918 Hamion 83/628 X 1,958,138 5/1934 Fowler et a1.83/370 X 2,047,243 7/1936 Zwoyer 83/623 2,586,903 2/1952 Badenhausen etal.. 83/370 X 2,840,163 6/1958 Fischer 83/372 X 3,011,375 12/1961 Muller83/372 X 3,082,923 3/1963 Ford et a1. 83/370 X 2,685,664 8/1954 Visconti83/365 X 3,425,306 2/1969 Wetzler 83/372 X 3,600,997 8/1971 Schmidt83/365 X Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost Attorney, Agent, or FirmFidler,Patnaude & Batz 57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for severing web materialsespecially for severing the web between successive panels which areattached to the web.

The apparatus includes a knife structure which is disposed on one sideof the web and the supporting member on the other side of the web.Special cam means are provided for moving the knife and the anvil membertoward and away from the web.

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PATENTED APR 2 I974 sum ;13 or 1 4 PATENTEU APR 2 I974 saw .1u 0F 14MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES OF PANELS This application is a divisionof copending application Ser. No. 99,135, filed Dec. I7, 1970, entitledMachine for Trimming the Edges of Panels.

SUMMARY This invention relates to a machine for trimming the edges ofpanels. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine which willreceive panels, such as, the common 4 by 6 foot plywood panels,continuously, as they come from a forming machine, and trim and squarethe panels automatically.

Themachine is especially adapted for the treatment of panels of plywoodor the like which come from the forming machine with their top surfacescoated with a continuous film of material such as resin-impregnatedfiberglass. The machine may be utilized for the trimming of panels ofmany different types, sizes and materials, but for the purposes ofdetailed description given herein we will describe the machine as it isapplied to panels having a continuous coating of resinimpregnatedfiberglass.

BACKGROUND A most common form of building material is the panel, such asthe well known plywood panels which come in many convenient sizes,thicknesses and finishes. One of the problems in the preparation of thepanels is to get the edges cut straight and square so that the panelscan be used where tolerances are not great and to eliminate hand workwhen the panels are put in place. It is further desirable to accomplishthis automatically at a more rapid rate and without hand labor or humanattention.

Machines have heretofore been devised for forming the panels anddelivering them continuously, but the edges need trimming, and squaringneeds to be done to make the edges true and accurately aligned.

We refer particularly to Menzer US. Pat. No. 3,377,228 which describesthe formation ofa structural panel wherein a fiberglass mat isimpregnated with resin in a continuous manner providing a top layerwhich is placed on the top surfaces of plywood panels which follow oneafter the other on a conveyor. The composite panels, with the continuoussheet as a top layer are passed through a heating zOne where the resinis cured, and the panels are delivered for further finishing.

In the prior practice such further finishing has required skilled handlabor. The resin coating had to be trimmed all about the edges of thepanel, and this was slowly and laboriously done by a skilled operatorusing a knife. In order to have the coating extend to the side edge ofthe panel it was necessary that the coating extend over the edgesomewhat, and this had to be trimmed off as well as to sever the webbetween the panels. In this trimming operation one slip of the knifemany times meant that the panel was ruined. Such hand trimming not onlywas slow and required a great amount of skill but was a very unpleasanttask, and it became very difficult indeed to get men who could and wouldperform the operation.

By this invention we provide a machine which will perform the necessaryfunctions automatically and which will do the job far more accuratelythan it possibly could be done by hand and at a much greater rate.

THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is set forth in theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a top or plan view of themachine;

FIG. 2 is a view of the machine in side elevation;

FIG. 3 is a view of the machine in front elevation;

FIG. 4 is a view of one of the saws in side elevation, taken from theline 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the saws and hogger devices in front elevation takenfrom line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the hogger saw adjustment in front elevation,taken from line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a detail view taken in side elevation of the saw, the hoggerdevice and the adjustment linkage taken from line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8'is a detail view in side elevation, of the breakup mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a detail view in front elevation showing the break-upmechanism, the view being partly in section;

FIG. 9a is a detail cross sectional view in elevation showing the knifestructure and particularly the knife sections of which the knife iscomposed;

FIG. 10 is a detail view in side elevation showing the drive chains;

FIG. 11 is a plan view in detail, showing the drive chains, the driverolls and drive clutches;

FIG. 12 is a detail view in side elevation, showing mechanism fordriving the rolls;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the carriage, including the hydraulicdrive motor;

FIG. 14 is a detail view in side elevation of the carriage, showing theadjustment for different panel widths;

FIG. 15 is a detail view of the carriage panel support adjustment asseen from line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a plan view in detail of the carriage panel supportadjustment as seen from line 16-16 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a view in elevation of the flipper mechanism taken as seenfrom line l717.of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a front view in elevation of the flipper mechanism;

FIG. 19 isa side elevational view of the cam lock of the flippermechanism, the view being taken as seen from the line 19l9 of FIG. 18; I

FIG. 20 is a detail view in side elevation of the grippers shown in FIG.17;

FIG. 21 is a detail view in front elevation of the panel end positioner;

FIG. 22 is a detail view in front elevation of the panel end positioner;

FIG. 23 is a side view in elevation of the panel end positioner in itsretracted position;

FIG. 24 is a side view in elevation of the panel end positioner with theend lip in closed position with the cylinder pistons extended;

FIG. 25 is a detail view of the panel drop adjustment including itscarrier and nut;

FIG. 26 is a detail view partly in section showing the panel drop hingein open position (solid lines) and in closed position (dotted lines);

FIG. 27 is a detail side view of the panel drop adjustment including thecarrier and nut;

FIG. 28 is a detail view, partly in section, of the central panelsupport on the carriage in operated (dotted lines) and non-operated(solid lines) positions;

FIG. 29 is a detail plan view of the carrier and the mechanism forsquaring the sides of the panels;

FIG. 30 is a circuit diagram showing schematically the switches and thedevices they bring into operation; and

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the untrimmed panels joined by theresin-impregnated fiberglass web, as they come from the forming machineand are fed to our trimming machine.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION We have now devised a machine which willautomatically saw and square the edges of the panels to be finished, andwhich in the case of the plywood panels having the top layer offiberglass-resin, will automatically sever the continuous top layerbetween the panels.

For convenience of description we will treat the machine as beingcomposed of its principal parts according to their functions. The firstsawing mechanism A operates to trim the sides of the panel; then thebreakup mechanism B operates to sever the web between one panel and thefollowing panel; the transfer mechanism C serves to transfer the panelto a second conveyor system D; in the system D the panel is squared andpassed through a second sawing mechanism; and following the secondsawing operation the flipper mechanism E operates to turn over thetrimmed sheet in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

FIG. 31 shows the panels as they come from the forming machine with thetop reinforced resin layer being continuous, and the plywood panels 171arranged one after the other with their ends spaced apart so thatbetween the trailing edge 172 of one panel and the leading edge 173 ofthe next panel is a connecting web 174 of resin-impregnated fiberglass.

As the panels come from the forming machine in the form above describedthey are fed directly into the front end of our machine where they arefirst passed through sawing mechanism A which trims the side edges ofthe panels. As they pass through the saws the webs between the panelsrem'ain unbroken and help to hold the panels against turning ortwisting.

After a panel has been sawed and passes a certain point beyond the sawsa switch is tripped which brings the break-up mechanism B into operationand this severs the web between this panel and the next one. This makesit possible for the panels to move independently from this point on.

As a panel passes beyond the break-up mechanism it comes to becontrolled by the transfer mechanism C the function of which is totransfer the panels to a second saw and conveyor system where the endsof the panels are sawed. The mechanism C accomplishes its transferringfunction by first speeding up the rate at which a panel passes throughthe machine after it has been severed from the succeeding panel. Thisserves to separate a forward panel from the others.

The forward panel passes quickly to where it rests on a temporarysupport and then when it has moved to a certain position it trips acontrol device which removes the support and allows the panel to fallonto a cartridge below.

Associated with the carriage is the mechanism D for squaring and bindingthe panel with respect to the carriage. With the panel in squaredposition and bound to the carriage, the carriage moves to carry thepanel laterally through the second set of saws to trim the ends of thepanel.

After passing the saws for trimming its ends the panel passes into theflipper mechanism E which at first receives the panel, then holds it,then turns it over and finally releases it, so that it may be taken fromthe machine.

These mechanisms all have drive means and control means foraccomplishing their functions as generally described above withouteffort or direction on the part of an operator. These drive means andcontrol means will later be described in more detail.

The above general description is given for the trimming of panels havinga continuous top layer of a material such as resin-impregnatedfiberglass such as illustrated in FIG. 31 of the drawings, but themachine may be used for the trimming of panels which are separate andformed of any material capable of being cut or sawed at its edges.

While the machine is intended for trimming large numbers of panels tothe same size there is provision for easy adjustment to accommodatedifferent sizes of panels, that is, differing widths, and differinglengths of panels. Also the machine will accommodate within reasonablelimits panels of widely differing thicknesses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Mechanism A for Trimming the Side Edges Mechanism Ais shown in its relation to the whole machine of FIGS. l to 3, and ismore specifically shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 with the drive being shown inFIGS. 10 to 12.

This mechanism, as well as the other working parts of the machine, aresupported generally in a frame which includes a pair of spacedlongitudinal members 1L and IR, and cross members 2L and 2R which aretied at their ends by structural members 5L and SR (The letter Laccompanying the character denotes left, and the letter R denotesright). These frame members may be welded at theirjunctions and suitablysupported by legs (See FIG. 2).

For mounting the saws we have a pair of shafts 15a and 15b which arespaced apart and are held at their ends by the shaft frame structure153L at the left end and 153R at the right (See FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) whichstructures rest upon and are secured to the corresponding frame members1L and IR.

Referring to FIG. 5, two saw assemblies are provided, saw 19L, guardedby the shield 17L and powered by electric motor 13L and saw 19R guardedby shield 17R and powered by motor 13R. The saw assembly which includessaw 19L and motor 13L is carried by the block 10L through which extendsthe shafts 15a and 15b; and the saw assembly which includes saw 19R.Motor 13R is carried by the block 10R which in like manner receives theshafts 15a and 15b.

A screw adjusting rod 16 is formed of two parts. On the left the part16a has its left end rotatably mounted in the frame structure 153L andis threaded with the threads advancing from the center toward the left.The part 16b has its right end rotatably mounted in frame structure 153Rand is threaded with the threads advancing from the center to the right.Parts 16a and 16b are joined at the center to form a unitary rod.

The left saw assembly has attached to it a nut carrier 12L which is inthreaded engagement with part 16a of rod 16 and the right saw assemblyhas the nut carrier 12R which is in threaded engagement with the part16b of rod 16. There is provision at one end of shaft 16 for attaching acrank or wrench so that this rod may be rotated in one direction tocause the saw assemblies to move apart and in the other direction tocause them to move toward each other thus providing means foraccommodating panels of different widths. Of course, it is not importantwhich direction the threads on 16a and 16b advance so long as thethreads advance in different directions.

It is desirable to provide a device known as a hogger which cooperateswith a saw to chew up the material which is sawed off in the trimmingoperation. We provide such a device which, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5,is designated 14L. This device includes the hogger shoe 20L whichoperates in association with saw 19L and which is carried by the block14L. Associated with the saw 19R is a second hogger device 20R which iscarried by the block 14R. As shown particularly in FIG. 4, these blocks14L and 14R contain cylindrical holes through which the spaced guideshafts 14c and 14d extend. Shafts 14c and 14d have their left ends fixedin the frame and serve to stabilize the hogger devices as they areslidably moved along the shafts when adjustments are made.

Near the center of each of blocks 14L and 14R is a tapped hole throughwhich extends a threaded shaft 11 which, like rod 16, has its left-handpart 11a threaded in one direction and its right-hand part 11b threadedin the other direction.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the rod and shaft 11 areprovided at their left ends with sprockets 16c and 11c respectively, andthe sprockets are connected by the chain 11d.

The threads on rod 16 and shaft 11 are of the same pitch so when the rod16 is turned to move the saws closer together or farther apart thehogger devices are correspondingly moved so as to be in the samerelationship with their respective saws whatever the width of the panelfor which the saws may be adjusted.

For feeding the panels and passing them through the saw mechanism fortrimming the side edges of the panel we provide rolls which in thespecific construction illustrated include roller members mounted onshafts. As shown more particularly in FIGS. to 12, the first pair ofrolls 33 includes the shafts 33a and 33b which are located one above theother. Their left ends are mounted in the bearing 39aL and their rightend are mounted in the bearing 39aR. The bearings are such as to permitupward movement of shaft 33b against spring pressure. Mounted on shafts33a and 33b are the roller members 36.

Similarly, the second pair of rolls 32 include the shafts 32a and 32bwhich have their ends mounted in bearings 39bL and 39bR and have theroller members 36. Likewise shafts 32a and 32b are adapted to be pressedapart in accordance with the thickness of the material being passedbetween the rolls. There is, however, one difference in that there isattached to the outside surface of the end roller members on shaft 32a aguide plate 40 which is intended to retain the side edge of the panelsand help keep them in alignment.

The wheels or roller members 36 on shafts 33a and 33b are secured to theshafts which set screws and have the guide plates positioned so that theedge of the panel rides on the wheels next to the guides. Forconvenience a shaft together with its wheels or roller members may becalled a roll and two shafts, such as 33a and 33b, together with theirassembled roller members, may be called a pair of rolls.

As shown at the right-hand end of FIGS. 1 and 2 the saws are locatedbetween the rolls 33 and 32 so that the panels as they enter the machinepass between the pair of rolls 33, then into the saws, and then betweenthe pair of rolls 32.

In order that the machine be fed at the same speed as panels aredelivered to it the power for driving the pairs of rolls 33 and 32 istaken from the same source that drives the forming machine. Power fromthis source drives the chain 43 (FIGS. 10 and 11) located at the righthand side of the machine. Chain 43 drives sprocket 33d attached to shaft33a. At its end this shaft is provided with a low inertia clutch 38. Theshaft 33a has attached to it a sprocket 332 which drives a chain 42which drives shaft 32a through sprocket 32d.

At the left side of the machine (See particularly FIGS. 11 and 12) theshaft 33a has attached to it a sprocket 33] which is connected by chain151 to a sprocket 152 mounted on shaft 154 which is rotatably mounted tothe frame member 1L. Above shaft 154 is a shaft 155 similarly mounted,and the gear 156 mounted on shaft 154 is meshed with the gear 157 onshaft 155. The sprocket 158 on shaft 155 connects through chain 45 withthe sprocket 159 on shaft 32b. Therefore, the shaft 33a, throughappropriate gearing mechanisms drives also the shaft 33b yet allows forthe separation of shaft 33b from 33a to allow for the thickness ofpanels being passed between this pair of rolls.

By similar mechanism and in a similar manner the shaft 32a drives theshaft 32b.

The Break-up Mechanism Reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 shows that next to thesawing mechanism A is the break-up mechanism B an for this attention isdirected particularly to FIGS. 8, 9 and 9a.

A rigid box-like frame 48 is mounted at its one end on frame member 1Land at its other end on frame member 1R. Frame 48 includes the uprightmembers 22L and 22R on its left-hand end and corresponding members onits right hand end. It has upper and lower transverse members 220 and22d extending between its left and right ends on the front side andcorresponding members on its rear side. Provision is made for raising orlowering frame 48 with respect to the main frame members 1L and IR andmeans for doing this will later be explained.

The knife carrier 21 has its left-hand end attached to the cross strap23L and its right-hand end attached to a similar strap at the right-handside of the machine. Carrier 21 is T-shaped in cross section andattached to its depending portion are a number of knife sections 27which when attached next to each other provide the knife which is tosever the web between the panels. As shown particularly in FIG. 9a thesesections have slanted bottom edges with the tips 27a extending slightlyover the next succeeding section.

The anvil carrier 53 has its left-hand end attached to the cross strap161L and its right-hand end attached to a similar strap at theright-hand side of the machine.

The anvil carrier 53 is in the form of a channel iron and has attachedto each side of the channel the anvil bars 53a.

Referring to FIG. 8, the straps 23 have their left ens provided withbushings which slidably engage guide bar 160a and their right ends havebushings which slidably engage guide bars 160b. Similar structure isprovided at the right-hand side of the machine. Thus, it is clear thatthe knife carrying structure, and also the anvil carrying structure, maymove up and down guided by the bars 160a and l60b at the left-hand sideof the machine and by similar bars at the right-hand side of themachine.

For moving the knife carrier and the anvil carrier toward and away fromeach other, we provide the gear 25L at the left-hand side and gear 24Rat the righthand side. Gear 25L is provided at its center with a pivotpiece 56L which is retained in the cross frame member 58L which has itsends attached to bars 160a and 1601). The gear 24R, at the right-handside of the machine, is similarly provided with a pivot piece which isretained in a cross frame member having its ends attached to bars 160Cand 160d.

On its inner side gear 25L is provided with a cam track 164 of the shapeillustrated in FIG. 8, and received in this cam track at its uppermostpoint is the roller 61 which is rotatably mounted at the center of slidestrap 23L. Received in the lowermost point of cam track 164 is theroller 165 which is rotatably mounted at the center of strap 161.

Similarly, gear 25R is provided on its inner side with a cam track, androllers engaging the top and bottom of this track are attachedrespectively to the right ends of the knife carrier and the anvilcarrier.

When gears 25L and 25R are rotated simultaneously by engagement withgears 26L and 26R which are fixed on shafts 59L and 59R. Shafts 59L and59R have their outer ends rotatably mounted in the frame and at theirinner ends are connected with a hydraulic drive device 24 of well knownmanufacture which is capable of driving the shafts 360 in one directionand when next operated 360 in the other direction. The gears 25L and 25Reach have twice as many teeth as the gears 26L and 26R with which theyare engaged, so rotation of gears 26L and 26R through 360producesrotation of gears 25L and 25R through 180.

Referring more especially to FIG. 8, it may be seen that with roller 61at the top of the cam track and roller 165 at the bottom of the track,the knife 27 is well separated from the anvil bars 53. However, when thegears 25L and 25R are rotated through 90 the knife will have beenbrought down and the anvil bars brought up to a position in which thebottom of the knife has passed below the top of the anvil bars and downbetween them. This means that anything between the knife and the anvilbars will have been severed. Then when the gears 25L and 25R rotatethrough another 90 the knife and anvil bars will separate and return totheir original positions.

The position at which the knife and anvil bars come together may becritical and to raise or lower this position we provide means forraising or lowering the frame 48 with respect to the main frame of themachine.

Referring again to FIGS. 8, 9 and 9a, there is mounted at the fourcorners of frame 48 the vertical rack pieces 28. The frame 48 is locatedwithin the frame members 1L and IR, and is guided in its movementvertically with respect to members 1L and 1R by the rollers 49L whichare carried by frame members 166L and 166R fixed respectively to themain frame members 1L and IR.

The racks are in toothed engagement with gears 29L and 29R on shaft 29awhich is rotatably mounted in the main frame. Shaft 29a is driventhrough gear 30 and worm 30a.

Rotation of the worm 30a in one direction turns gear 30 in one directionwhich through gear 29L and 29R and their engagement with racks 28 serveto raise the frame 48 with respect to the main frame, and rotation ofworm 30a in the opposite direction, therefore, serves to lower the frame48 with respect to the main frame.

Such adjustment to raise or lower frame 48 and the knife and anvilcarriers within it with respect to the main frame is desirable toaccommodate thicker or thinner panels which have as their top layer acontinuous sheet of reinforced resin. When the plywood under layer isthicker the web between the panels is raised and it is necessary toraise frame 48 to bring the anvil bars up to the under side of the webbetween the ens of the plywood as the knife descends to strike and severthe web, and conversely when the plywood layer is thinner it isnecessary to lower the frame 48 so that the anvil bars will not strikethe web before the knife.

The Transfer Mechanism After the web between the panels has been shearedor otherwise severed the next event is to transfer the forward panel tomechanism for squaring the panel and trimming the ends. The first stepin the transfer operation takes place when the panel is sent on at afaster rate of speed than the speed at which the other panels are movingso as to separate the forward panel from the others and thus preventjamb-ups while the positioning and squaring operations are taking place.

Referring again to FIGS. 10 to 12, there is provided a pair of shafts31a and 31b, with shaft 31b over shaft 31a. Rolls 31 are horizontallyaligned with rolls 32 and 33. The end rollers 36 on shafts 31a and 31b,like those on shafts 32a and 32b, are also provided with the guideflanges 40 on their outer edges, to act as guides for the panels as theypass through rolls 31.

Shaft 31a is driven by shaft 32a through sprocket 32a, chain 41 andsprocket 31e. Shaft 31b is driven by shaft 31a through sprocket 31d,chain 35, and sprocket 31c. The idler sprockets 3lfand 31g also engagechain 35 and permit an arrangement where shafts 31a and 31b may separatevertically without binding or disengagement of the drive.

Although shafts 31b and 31a are normally driven, as above described, atthe same rate of speed as shafts 31a and 33a, there is provision fordriving them at a greater rate of speed. At its right-hand end shaft 31ais provided with a clutch 37, and at its left-hand end shaft 31a isprovided with a motor 34 which is designed to drive the shaft fasterthan its normal rate with clutch 37 permitting the overdrive. The motor34 may be hydraulic or electric as may be convenient.

When shaft 31a is driven faster than shafts 32a and 33a the panel thenengaged between rolls 31 will be advanced and passed by itself quicklyforward within the machine, with its side edges supported by the paneldrop supports 76L and 76R.

The support 76R at the right of the machine is a strip extendinglongitudinally (See FIGS. 1 and 26') and when in suppport position(dotted lines in FIG. 26) serves to support the right-hand edge portionof the panel. At spaced points along its length this strip is pivotallymounted to the strip 76a which is attached to the frame. At these spacedpoints the strip 76R has on its under side the levers 167 which arepivotally connected at their ends to the pistons of the fluid cylinders79. Thus when the fluid cylinders operate to extend their pistons thismoves the supporting strip about its pivot into the position shown indotted lines in FIG. 26 so as to support the side edges of the panelwhich is passed onto the strip, and conversely when the pistons areretracted, the strip-76R is moved about its pivot to remove support ofthe right side edge portions of the panel.

Similarly, the strip 76L which is spaced from the strip 76R by adistance a bit greater than the width of the panel, extends in likemanner and is similarly mounted pivotally with the strip 76b secured tothe frame, and spaced cylinders of the same type mounted on strip 76aoperate through similarconnections to hold strip 76b in supportcondition when the pistons are extended and to move this strip pivotallywhen moving to retracted position to remove support for the left sideedge portion of the panel.

The cylinders 79 are arranged to operate in unison so that when theforward panel moves to a position where it trips the control both strips76L and 76R drop down to permit the panel to fall down to the bed of thecarriage (See FIGS. 13, 14, 28 and 29).

The strips 76a are attached to the frame in a manner which will permitadjustment to allow for different width panels. This attachment isillustrated in FIGS. and 27. The ends of the strips 76a are attached tothe frame member 77 through the block 80, and the set screws 199 securethe panel drop assembly to the adjustment nut 201.

The strips 76b are attached to the frame in a manner similar to thatabove described for strips 76a.

The Conveyor System D While the side edges of the panels are supportedon strips 76L and 76R the center portion of the panel is supported onthe bar 120 (See FIG. 28). This bar is in its upper position, as shownin dotted lines in FIG. 28, being pressed in this position by the fluidcylinders 122a and 122b while the strips 76L and 76R are in supportingposition. However, when pressure on cylinders 122a and 1221) is relievedand the strips 76R fall, the bar 120 also moves down permitting thepanel to fall flat on the bed of the carriage. (See FIGS. 13 and 29) Thebed of carriage 170 is formed of the adjustable slats 72L on the left,adjustable slats 72R on the right and stationary slats 72 in the center(See FIG. 29). These slats are supported at their ends on the'crossmembers 3L and 3R, forming a carrier frame which is slidably mountedabout shafts 70L and 70R and supported on frame members 2L and 2R byroller members 71L and 71R.

In order that the panel be properly squared it is desirable first tomake sure that the panel lays flat on the carrier bed and that it is notdisplaced endwise. We have found that some panels may be slightly warpedor in falling to the carrier bed become displaced endwise.

To correct such irregularities we provide mechanism for pressing the endportions of the panels downwardly and means for positioning the ends ofthe panel.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 21, 22, 23 and 24, the presser bar 175L isconnected at its center to the piston of cylinder 110L which is mountedon frame member 81L. At its sides are the guides 1 12aL and 1 12bL whichextend upwardly through bushings 176aL and 176bL. It will be seen thatoperation of the cylinder 110L to extend its piston presses the bar 175Ldownwardly with guides l 12aL and 112bL sliding in bushings 176aL and176bL until the presser bar moves against the end portion of the panel.

Hingedly attached to presser bar 175L is strip 1131. and mounted on thetop side of bar 175L are the cylin ders 111. Cylinders 111 are arrangedso that when their pistons are extended they push the strip 113 aboutits hinged connection with bar 175L to a position where the strip 113Lis at 90 with bar 175L. FIG. 23 shows the device in open position withstrip 113]. moved to open position and with cylinder 110L in retractedposition. FIG. 24 shows the same device after the cylinder 111 hasoperated to bring the strip 113L to closed position where it makes 90with the bar 175L, showing cylinder 110L in its extended position.

As the bar 175L descends against the end portion of the panel the strip1 13L is in the position shown in FIG. 23, but as this bar 175L contactsthe panel the cylinders 111 are operated to move the strip 1 13L to theposition shown in FIG. 24 which serves to bring the end of the panelinto proper position.

It is understood that a second bar 175R is disposed over the trailingedge portion of the panel and the cylinder 110R mounted on frame member81R operates to bring this bar down onto the panel, and another set ofcylinders 111 mounted on the bottom of 175R operate to bring the strip113R about its pivot to confine the right hand end of the panel.

Referring to FIG. 29, the strips 96L and 96R are disposed in spacedrelation on the carriage bed. These strips are adjustably secured incross members 73 as will later be explained and are intended to bespaced apart such that the side edges of the panels rest upon them. Thestrip 96R has a backing flange 96Rl which may abut and serve to retainthe right-hand side edge of a panel.

The strip 96L also is adjustably secured in cross members 73. Anotherstrip 75 is hingedly connected with strip 96L. The fluid cylinders 78which are mounted on the under side of strip 96L may be identical to thecylinders 79 of FIG. 26 and have their pistons connected as shown inFIG. 26, so as to move the strip 75 upwardly about its hinged connectionto bring it into a plane at right angles with the strip 96L. Thus, whenthe panel is laying on the bed of the carrier its righthand side edge isretained by the flange 96R1, and when the cylinders 78 operate the strip75 is brought up against the left-hand side edge to bring the panel to aposition where its side edges are at with the direction of the movementof the carrier.

With the sides of the panel made square, and held in squared conditionthe cylinders 111 operate to open the lip members 1 13L and 113R at theends of the panels and cylinders 1 10L and R operate to bring back thebars L and 175R to their raised positions, which leaves the carriagefree to move laterally to thus undertake the sawing of the end edges.

1. In a machine for finishing panels from material which comprisespanels joined by a web of material, conveyor means or passing saidpanels through said machine, a knife on one side of said web and havingits edge pointed toward said web, a cam gear having a cam track, saidknife being provided at one end with a protruding member engaging saidtrack, said track being of such shape that at one angular position ofsaid cam said member is at a position substantially removed from thecenter of said gear and said knife is spaced from said web, and atanother angular position of said gear said member is at a position inwhich the edge of said knife extends into said web, and means sensitiveto the passing of a panel to a predetermined position within saidmachine for rotating said gear from said one angular position to saidother angular position to thereby sever said web.
 2. A machine as setforth in claim 1 including an anvil support member positioned on theside of said web opposite said knife and positioned to support said webwhen said gear is rotated to bring said knife to a position in which itengages said web.
 3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidanvil support member has a protruding member engaging said track, saidtrack being shaped to permit said member and said anvil member to remainfree of said web when said cam gear is in said one angular position andto move said anvil member into contact with said web when said cam gearis moved to said other position.
 4. A machine as set forth in claim 3including means for raising and lowering said cam gear with respect tosaid web whereby adjustment may be made to accomodate different verticalpositions of said web.
 5. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidcam track is continuous, the track being disposed farthest from thecenter of said cam gear at diametrically opposed points and nearest tosaid center at diametrically opposed points which are displaced fromsaid first mentioned points by 90*.
 6. A machine as set forth in claim 1including a second cam gear spaced from said first mentioned cam gearand having a track corresponding with said cam track, a protrusionmember extending from the other end of said knife and engaging the camtrack on said second gear, said cam gears being connected for rotationin unison whereby on rotation of said cam gears from said one positionto said second position both ends of said knife are caused to move inunison toward said web.
 7. A machine as set forth in claim 2 includingmeans for simultaneously moving both said knife and said anvil supportmember toward said web to the point where said anvil member supportssaid web on said other side while said knife severs said material fromsaid one side.
 8. A machine as set forth in claim 6 which includes apair of said cam gears in spaced relation, each of said gears having camtracks which correspond with a cam track of the other, and wherein oneend of said knife haS a protrusion member engaging the track on one ofsaid gears and the other end of said knife has a protrusion memberengaging the track on the other of said gears, whereby both ends of saidknife are moved in union toward said web through rotation of said gears.9. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said knife has a pluralityof sections each of which has a slanted bottom edge providing a lowertip on each section, the lower tip of one of said sections beingextended along the longitudinal direction of said knife so that said tipoverlies an adjacent section of the knife.
 10. A machine as set forth inclaim 7 which includes means for simultaneously moving both said knifeand said anvil member away from the plane of said web, whereby toseparate said knife and said anvil member and provide space therebetweenin which a new length of web may be received.